Page 313 of The Sinner: James

“He, um... Things didn’t work out in the end for him or his wife.”

“They never do, do they?” he asks, shifting in his seat.

Suddenly, he seems restless.

He glances at the pack of cigarettes, tempted to retrieve one, yet changes his mind and pushes it to the side.

His elbows rest on the table, and his fingers are locked together while he studies me through his lashes.

“So, how much did he pay her?”

“She got half of his money.”

He nods.

“I’m not surprised.”

“He has enough left,” I say.

He tilts his head back and runs his hand through his hair, a cocky grin touching his lips.

“I bet,” he comments.

Holding his gaze, I notice his turmoil.

“What else would you like to know?”

The irony in my voice registers with him, yet he stifles his retort.

Looking down, he plays with his lighter, his lips tilted into a smile.

“So, if he’s single, and he’s always had a soft spot for you, and now you two are business partners... It begs the question...”

He pauses.

“Yes?” I murmur.

“Are you two together?”

I search his eyes.

“What if I said yes?”

His eyes darken, and his lips tense.

“Then, I don’t think we have an entire week together,” he says.

“Why would I be here with you if that was the case?” I ask softly.

His eyes brighten a bit.

“We live in a strange world, baby, and even though I can’t think of a valid reason why you’d do something like that, it wouldn’t be completely out of the question, would it?”

“You said you didn’t want to hear about my men, but I think you should,” I say, picking a blueberry from the cup in front of me.

I squeeze it between my teeth, drawing his eyes to my mouth.

“Are you sure it’s a good idea?” he asks.

---